PC recycling scheme goes national

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A community initiative to stop thousands of old computers, mobile phones, printers and other hazardous "e-waste" from being dumped in landfills is going national.

When eDay was held in Wellington last year offering people a free place to drop off e-junk, organisers received 54 tonnes of unloved hardware in one day.

"That amount of e-waste collected from one region was phenomenal, considering it was a cars-only event and we didn't target corporate organisations or government departments," organiser Laurence Zwimpfer said.

However, according to a recent survey by the Computer Access New Zealand Trust (CANZ) that amount was barely scratching the surface. It estimated there were over 10 million electronic devices being used in New Zealand, with nearly one million being added each year.

"With that many computers becoming redundant, and the options to dispose of them very limited, it is important that equipment is recycled or reused wherever possible," Mr Zwimpfer said.

This year eDays are being held in 12 regions around the country from September 29-30.

The event was launched today by Communications Minister David Cunliffe and Environment Ministry chief executive Hugh Logan.

Website www.eday.org.nz says on average 97 per cent of material collected would be diverted from landfills for recycling.

Mr Zwimpfer said e-waste and its toxic materials, including lead and mercury from old computers, were globally the fastest growing type of waste being sent to landfills – posing a potential toxic hazard for people, animals and the environment.

- NZPA